Police asked to step up vigil on railway tracks

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday directed senior police officials to step up security on railway tracks in view of three-day rail roko call given by the TJAC, as part of the ongoing Sakala Janula Samme.The chief minister convened a high-level meeting with senior officials concerned at the Secretariat to review the strike situation.Besides ensuring proper security measures on railway tracks, he wanted officials to see smooth supply of coal by railway rakes.At present, there is a need to be more careful by examining tracks from time to time to avert any untoward incident, he noted.With regard to power supply, Kiran Kumar Reddy instructed energy officials to submit details of power required for agriculture sector and opportunities to enhance power supply from six to seven hours.At present, six hours power is being supplied to farmers as against the promise of seven hours.Energy officials informed the chief minister there was improvement in coal production in Singareni collieries.Besides import of coal, the Centre has also allocated additional natural gas to gas-based power plants in the state.At present, the power demand is around 262.14 million units per day and the AP Discoms are able to meet around 225.40 MU. The shortfall of around 36.74 MU is being managed by imposing power cuts to domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors.APTransco had made total purchases of 17.33 MU from various sources for Rs 7.73 crore for the day.